The high cost of admission proved something of an obstacle even for the Celtic Tiger as Martin O'Neill's treble winners failed to fill the house. With the cheapest adult tickets £25 and the visitors minus their golden boy, Henrik Larsson, O'Neill's all-conquering Celtic attracted an attendance of no more than 6,500 to Tolka Park.
And as with Cork City for Celtic's first game of their short Irish tour on Friday evening, the National League clubs were left with little profit having satisfied the Scottish champions' reputed £100,000 appearance fee.
Celtic, who paraded the three trophies they won last season, literally didn't look themselves in their change strip of white shirts and black shorts.
"I thought it was an excellent work out for us," said O'Neill. "Shelbourne played very well indeed, especially in the first half and they made it difficult for us. They caused us problems and it was just the type of workout we wanted."
Shelbourne put it up to Celtic from the kick-off with Owen Heary almost forcing an own goal from captain Paul Lambert within 40 seconds. Celtic survived again on 17 minutes when Richie Baker, played in by brother Dessie, clipped a post.
Lubo Moravcik was guilty of a bad miss after good work by the lively Didier Agathe midway through the half. However, the game got a much needed boost with two goals at either end early in the second-half. Jackie McNamara rounded off a fine move involving Jamie Smith and Sean Maloney to shoot Celtic in front on 52 minutes. Shelbourne replied swiftly with Brian Byrne punishing Douglas' inability to hold a crossshot from Dessie Baker to equalise just a minute later.
Hometown boy Mick Doyle was a delighted scorer when heading home Smith's corner to finally put Celtic in the driving seat on 74 minutes with Tommy Johnson adding the third three minutes later.
Irish teenagers Doyle, Jim Goodwin and Liam Miller all got a run with Doyle much the centre of attention with his first goal for the senior team. "I'm pleased about that," said O'Neill afterwards.
But they have much to do to break into the first team. "I don't think they are under any illusions whatsoever," said O'Neill. "To try and break into the side in the foreseeable future is going to be very difficult."
On his young Dublin goalscorer, O'Neill added: "He's always capable of coming late and scoring goals as he showed with the under-21 side last season. He knows what he has to do. But it's going to be a battle. I'm not expecting any of the three of them to come through relatively quickly, but they do have time on their side, though I don't tell them that."
Having brushed aside all before them in Scotland last season, O'Neill is under no illusions himself about Celtic's hopes for the Champions League.
"It would be nice to do well," he said. "The co-efficient would suggest that we haven't done well enough. `We've won the championship in Scotland, but all that entitles us to is a qualifying match in which we won't be seeded. So we will play a seeded team and that could be a side of the calibre of Barcelona or Liverpool.
"We won't be frightened of the game, whatever it is, and it's certainly one to look forward to."
SHELBOURNE: Downey; Heary, Gannon, McCarthy, Minnock; R Baker, Fenlon, Hutton, Crawford, B Byrne; D Baker. Subs: D Byrne for Hutton (half-time), McCann and Hutchison for D Baker and Crawford (83 mins).
CELTIC: Douglas; McNamara, Tebily, Crainey; Agathe, Moravcik, Lambert, Lennon, Petta; Sutton, Maloney. Subs: Johnson for Sutton (19 mins), Boyd, Smith and Goodwin for Moravcik, Petta and Crainey (all at half-time), Doyle for Tebily (65 mins), Gould, Burchill and Fotherington for Douglas, Agathe and Lambert (all 67 mins), Miller and Weighorst for McNamara and Maloney (both 76 mins).
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin)
